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| TPWD News Release 20071023a |
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[ Note: This item is more than nine years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: TPWD News, news@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-8030 ] [SL]
Oct. 23, 2007
Outlook Bright for Upcoming Deer Season
AUSTIN, Texas -- Last year's Texas deer hunting season was considered text book by state wildlife biologists. This season, hunters may have to throw out the book.
Indicators leading into the Nov. 3 season opener point to potentially great hunting across much of the state, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists. But, as they say in advertising disclaimers, Individual results may vary.
"Generally speaking, it's a banner year for (fawn) production," said Mitch Lockwood, TPWD deer program leader. "As far as the quality of the animals, the deer we're seeing are in pretty good condition and I expect antler quality and body weights to be above average. Not only do we expect this year's crop to be better, but there are more mature bucks out there simply because harvest was down in 2006."
Whitetails have responded well from last year's extended dry spell, thanks to an unseasonably wet spring and summer, and have taken advantage of resurgent plant growth, Lockwood noted. That bodes well for the deer, but could pose a challenge for hunters hoping to find success from a blind over supplemental feed.
Biologists point to 2004, when timely spring rains created ideal range conditions, healthy deer and high expectations from hunters. Due to the abundance of vegetation available to deer that year, hunters observed fewer animals during the season and overall harvest numbers were down.
When conditions became relatively dry in 2005, deer harvest jumped considerably and, in particular, more mature bucks were killed that season.
"That's what makes this year tough to predict," Lockwood noted. "There will be more deer on the ground this fall, but hunting could be tough early in the season."
Because some parts of the state are drying up as rainfall slacked off in September and October, deer movements and hunting conditions could change. "Deer were seeing so much good native groceries all year, corn was something new to them," he said. "In the Edwards Plateau, we're loaded with acorns. Once those food sources run out, deer should return to feeders."
With the expected high percentage of recruitment into the deer population this year, biologists are urging hunters and landowners to actively manage whitetail numbers.
"It's important for hunters to use those antlerless tags this season and get those excess animals off the range before winter sets in to ensure there's enough food to go around," Lockwood said. "If folks want help determining how many deer to remove from their property they are welcome to contact their local TPWD biologist for assistance."
TPWD provides wildlife management consultation at no cost to landowners. The agency offers a variety of conservation planning assistance, from habitat enhancement incentives to wildlife resource management. Details about these programs are available on the TPWD Web site or from your local wildlife biologist.
While there are no major changes to deer regulations this year, hunters in eastern and central Texas are reminded that special buck antler restrictions are in effect in 61 counties. Under the regulation, a lawful buck in the designated counties is defined as any buck having at least one unbranched antler OR an inside antler spread of at least 13 inches. The bag limit in the affected counties is two lawful bucks, no more than one of which may have an inside spread of greater than 13 inches.
For additional deer hunting regulations refer to the 2007-08 Outdoor Annual available wherever licenses are sold and on the TPWD Web site.
Following is a snapshot of conditions and observations for the upcoming season for each Texas ecological region.
South Texas Plains
Deer should be fat this year and fawn crops should be 50 percent or better, even on marginal ranges, according to TPWD district biologist Joe Herrera in Pleasanton. He reported antler quality should also be excellent this fall.
"The deer are not moving much due to the good habitat conditions, and are eating very little supplemental feed," said Herrera. "With the great range conditions consisting of tall grasses and green brush it may be difficult to hunt this season."
With the high fawn survival biologists are expecting this fall, managers will have their work cut out for them trying to keep the deer population at healthy levels before the next drought hits.
Panhandle
"We're anticipating excellent body weights and horn development, and even though it has gotten dry whitetails should go into the winter in good shape," noted Danny Swepston, TPWD district biologist in Canyon.
"Having too much cover may be a problem during the early part of the season," Swepston added. "In areas where winter wheat is coming up, deer may be moving on that pretty quick. They may be slow coming to feeders in some places."
Swepston recommended in some of the eastern counties of the Panhandle having high deer populations, hunters are encouraged to take does.
Possum Kingdom
Range conditions are in pretty good shape, said Kevin Mote, TPWD biologist in Brownwood. "We're seeing a pretty good acorn crop and lots of vegetation. The deer aren't moving much and survey results are down because can't see them, but we know we had a high fawn crop."
Mote went on to add, with this moisture the acorns aren't going to last forever. "If the cooling trend continues we should have a great opener," he predicted. "We're seeing good body condition and antler development, and of the does we see, most have twins. We really need to take some does.
"Hunting conditions were really tough last year because it was warm and dry," said Mote. "Deer weren't coming to feeders well last year, even though we were in a drought. If folks got rain starting early in the fall last year, the does came through in good condition."
Just because hunters aren't seeing deer with their eyes, Mote urged not giving up on the doe harvest because they are out there nonetheless.
Hill Country
The potential for some quality bucks is out there, but predicting where they will be is the catch this season, according to TPWD biologist Mike Krueger in Kerrville. "It's extremely hit or miss as far as feeders," he explained. "We've got a tremendous acorn crop and they're not going to be cleaned up before the season. Maybe by the rut deer will start coming to feeders, but I expect it will be very shaky."
Krueger said back-to-back years of low fawn production has had an impact and although the deer are making up ground this year, hunters in some areas still may see fewer deer. That doesn't mean the deer have vanished, just tough to spot. "We did a spotlight survey on Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and didn't see much of anything because the vegetation was so tall," he reported. "The abundance of acorns is affecting deer movement. Things are pretty good for them right now."
He said he's received scattered reports of deer not in good condition. "But, overall the quality should be good," he noted. "When bucks initiated antler growth, rains already started and the deer were able to maintain that through the growing season. Generally speaking throughout the Edwards Plateau, unless you have evidence to back off, hunters need to continue to control deer numbers."
Post Oak Savannah
Deer hunting may be more difficult this year, according to Tyler-based biologist David Sierra. "The vegetation will be lush and thick, providing more cover and making deer harder to spot," he noted. "The increased amount of forage and mast will allow deer to move less and bed down early. And again, better range conditions will spread the deer over larger areas and not concentrate them in the bottoms and other prime habitats."
With the mild winter, excellent spring and cooler summer this year deer should not have experienced the usual environmental stresses. This should allow them to put on more body fat and use the extra nutrition to express their full genetic potential, said Sierra. "So I would expect them to be heavier and with better then usual antler development."
Because of the abundant vegetation available, Sierra suggested hunter look for an opening in the woods bordering a native meadow and a stand of oaks or pecan trees. "Because of the excellent range conditions there should be an abundance of both forbs and mast; hunting the edge will allow me to take advantage of both."
If deer are conditioned to come to feeders some will still visit them, but fewer will probably use them this season.
Coastal Prairies and Marshes
"Like everybody else we've had an incredible year as far as rainfall and the acorn crop is excellent so it might be tough for hunters waiting for deer coming to feeders," offered David Forrester, TPWD biologist in LaGrange. "Our recruitment is above average and the deer are in great shape going into the season.
Forrester tempered his outlook by noting that similar conditions in 2004 resulted in a decline in deer harvest. Plus, he has not had many reports of deer being taken during the archery season. "Harvest may drop this year because they definitely don't have to come to a feeder," he said. "Bowhunters typically hunt near feed. If you're wanting a big, quality buck this season, you're probably going to have to get down and do some old-fashioned hunting."
Pineywoods
Gary Calkins has seen many East Texas deer seasons come and go, but this one is looking like the best, according to the Jasper-based TPWD biologist. "It got dry toward the end of summer, after the deer had finished growing antlers and body weights were in good shape," he said.
Despite an average acorn crop this year, Calkins reported an abundance of other natural food sources. "Because it has been so wet, the acorns have not dropped so that might make it tough around the opening of the season."
Calkins added that hunters in the 16 counties that fell under the special buck antler regulations last year should see more mature bucks in the woods this season. "Last year, our harvest didn't take a hit but there were a lot of spikes taken," he noted. "We're starting to see some co-ops coming along because of the Managed Lands Deer Permits."
Trans Pecos
Deer condition should be really good antler-wise and body-wise, said Ruben Cantu, TPWD regional wildlife director in San Angelo. "Range conditions are absolutely great with lush forage thanks to good rainfall," he said. "We had a pretty good fawn crop and the thing that's difficult for hunters to do at times like this when everything looks so good is to remember to manage deer populations for drought because that's much more prevalent out here."
Cantu is encouraging hunters to help keep deer numbers below the normal capacity of the land to carry, but admits that might be tough to do early in the season due to the abundance of natural browse.
"Corn is piling up around the feeders," he admitted. "Animals are coming by as creatures of habit, but they are not staying. Things are starting to dry up and look like normal so hopefully by the start of the season the deer will start coming to feed."
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